haul off {v.} To move suddenly. - Used with "and" usually before a verb like "hit" or "kick". * /Ed hauled off and hit the other boy in the nose./ * /Lee hauled off and threw a ...

haul over the coals or[rake over the coals] {v. phr.} To criticize sharply; rebuke; scold. * /The sergeant raked the soldier over the coals for being late for roll call./ Syn.: DRESS ...

have See: CAT HAS NINE LIVES, ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO, EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING, EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY, HAVE NOTHING ON or HAVE ANYTHING ON, LITTLE PITCHERS ...

have a soft spot in one's heart for {v. phr.} To be sympathetically inclined towards; entertain a predilection for. * /Ron always had a soft spot in his heart for intellectual women wearing miniskirts./

have one's ass in a sling {v. phr.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To be in an uncomfortable predicament; to be in the dog-house; to be at a disadvantage. * /Al sure had his ass in a sling ...

have someone by the balls {v. phr.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To have someone at a disadvantage or in one's power. * /The kidnappers had the company by the balls for six long weeks./

have a (good) head for {v. phr.} To have a special talent in a certain area. * /Joan has quite a good head for business administration./

have a (good) mind to {v. phr.} To consider doing; intend to with a high degree of probability. * /I have a good mind to tell my boss that he doesn't know how to run our enterprise./

have a ball {v. phr.}, {slang} Enjoy yourself very much; have a wonderful time. * /Johnny had a ball at camp./ * /Mary and Tim have a ball exploring the town./ * /After their parents ...

have a say in or[a voice in] {v. phr.} To have the right to express one's opinion or cast a vote in a pending matter. * /Our boss is friendly and democratic; he always encourages us ...

have a screw loose {v. phr,}, {slang} To act in a strange way; to be foolish. * /Now I know he has a screw loose - he stole a police car this time./ * /He was a smart man but had a screw ...

have a snowball's chance in hell {v. phr.} To be condemned to failure; enjoy a zero chance of success. * /Pessimists used to think that we had a snowball's chance in hell to put a man on the moon; yet ...

have a sweet tooth {v. phr.} To be excessively fond of dessert items, such as ice cream, pies, etc. * /Jill has a sweet tooth; she always orders apple pie after a meal in a restaurant./ ...

have a time {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To have trouble; have a hard time. * /Poor Susan had a time trying to get the children to go to bed./ * /John had a time passing his math course./ ...

have a way with {v. phr.} To be able to lead, persuade, or influence. * /Dave has such a way with the campers that they do everything he tells them to do./ * /Ted will be a good ...

have a word with {v. phr.} 1. To talk, discuss, or speak briefly with. * /Robert, I need to have a word with you about tomorrow's exam./ 2. To engage in a sincere discussion with the ...

have all one's buttons or[have all one's marbles] {v. phr.}, {slang} To have all your understanding; be reasonable. - Usually used in the negative or conditionally. * /Mike acts sometimes as if ...

have an affair with {v. phr.} To have a sexual relationship with someone, either before marriage or outside of one's marriage. * /Tow and Jane had a long and complex affair but they never got ...

have an ear for {v. phr.} To have a keen perception; have a taste or a talent for; be sensitive to something. * /I have no ear whatsoever for foreign languages or music./

have in the palm of one's hand {v. phr.} To completely control; have a project finished, all wrapped up. * /Our boss felt that if he could calm his critics he would soon have the entire factory in the ...

have it {v. phr.} 1. To hear or get news; understand. * /I have it on the best authority that we will be paid for our work next week./ 2. To do something in a certain way. * /Make up ...

have one's cake and eat it too {v. phr.} To enjoy two opposite advantages. * /You can either spend your money going to Europe or save it for a down payment on a house, but you can't do both. That would be ...

have one's ear {v. phr.} To have access to someone in power; receive audiences rather frequently. * /The national security advisor has the president's ear./

have one's ears on {v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} To have one's CB radio in receiving condition. * /Good buddy in the eighteen wheeler southbound, got your ears on?/

have one's head screwed on backwards {v. phr.} To lack common sense; behave in strange and irrational ways. * /Henry seems to have his head screwed on backwards; he thinks the best time to get a suntan is ...

have something going for one {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To have ability, talent; good looks, and/or influence in important places helping one to be successful. * /Well now, Pat Jones, that's ...

have something on {v. phr.}, {informal} To have information or proof that someone did something wrong. * /Mr. Jones didn't want to run for office because he knew the opponents had something ...

have something on the ball {v. phr.}, {slang}, {colloquial} To be smart, clever; to be skilled and have the necessary know-how. * /You can trust Syd; he's got a lot on the ball OR he's got something ...

have the constitution of an ox {v. phr.} To be able to work extremely hard and to have the stamina to overcome misfortune. * /Stan, who has lost both of his parents within one year and is ...

have the courage of one's convictions {v. phr.} To be brave enough to act according to your beliefs. * /Steve showed that he had the courage of his convictions by refusing to help another student cheat in ...

have two strikes against one or[have two strikes on one] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have things working against you; be hindered in several ways; be in a difficult situation; be unlikely to succeed. * ...

hit-and-run {adj.} 1. Of or about an accident after which a motorist drives away without giving his name and offering help. * /Judges are stern with hit-and-run drivers./ 2. ...

hit-or-miss also[hit-and-miss] {adj.} Unplanned; uncontrolled; aimless; careless. * /John did a lot of hit-or-miss reading, some of it about taxes./ * /Mary packed her bag in ...

hitch one's wagon to a star {v. phr.} To aim high; follow a great ambition or purpose, * /In trying to be a famous pianist, Mary had hitched her wagon to a star./ * /John hitched his wagon to a star ...

hither and thither or[hither and yon] {adv. phr.}, {literary} In one direction and then in another. * /Bob wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate./ Compare: HERE AND THERE.